1

Needle stick exposure of the study subjects:

The data shown in supplemental Table 1 summarize the needle stick exposure history of the study subjects. 273 of the study subjects reported dealing with syringes in the last 3 months prior to participation in the study with a significantly higher frequency of dealing with syringes in seronegative aviremic and seronegativeviremic subjects (p<0.001; Supplemental Table 1). Only 16 (4%) of the participants reported a positive history of needle sticks in the last 3 months with no significant differences between the four groups (p=0.997). The average history of needle sticks per HCW per year was 0.3±0.87; which is very low as compared to the national average of ≥4.2 sticks/HCW/year[1, 2]. There was no significant differences between the four groups (HCV positive and negative subjects) in the number of needle sticks per year (p=0.123; Table 2). Also, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the four groups in all remaining parameters examined regarding needle stick exposure. These parameters included: identification of the injury source, source status of HBsAg, HBcAg, HCV-Ab, HCV-RNA, cause of injury, sharp tool type, if the sharp broke the glove, injury place, anti-HBs and anti-HBe states of the source, source is a dangerous subject, source is a blood recipient, source is using repeated injections, injured person is first user of the sharp tool, condition of the sharp tool, injury site, or injury type(supplemental Table 1 and data not shown).

Those who are considered as high risk (HR)HCW (those who had more than one needle stick injury in the last year) were only 26 individuals. The remaining individuals were considered low risk (LR; those who had no or one needle stick injury in the last year). Of the 26 HR subjects, 10 were HCV infected (HCV antibody and/or HCV-RNA positive) and only 16 were HCV seronegative aviremic (Supplemental Table 1).

Supplemental Table 1 Needle stick exposure characteristics among the health care workers at the National Liver Institute

Characteristic / ELISA -ve
PCR -ve / ELISA -ve
PCR +ve / ELISA +ve
PCR -ve / ELISA +ve
PCR +ve / p (2) / Total
n=402(%)
Dealing w/syringes (last three months)
  • No
  • yes
/ 56 (21.9)
200(78.1) / 6(24)
19(76) / 23(56.1)
18(43.9) / 42(53.8)
36(46.2) / <0.001 / 127(31.8)
273(68.3)
History of needle stick in the last three months
  • None
  • Once
  • Twice
  • 3-5 times
  • >5 times
/ 246(95.3)
6(2.3)
4(1.6)
1(0.4)
1(0.4) / 25(100)
0(0)
0(0)
0(0)
0(0) / 40(97.6)
1(2.4)
0(0)
0(0)
0(0) / 74(96.1)
2(2.6)
1(1.3)
0(0)
0(0) / 0.997 / 385(96)
9(2.2)
5(1.2)
1(0.2)
1(0.2)
History of needle stick in the last year
  • None
  • Once
  • Twice
  • 3-5 times
  • >5 times
/ 204(79.4)
37(14.4)
9(3.5)
7(2.7)
0(0) / 20(80)
1(4)
2(8)
2(8)
0(0) / 38(92.7)
2(4.9)
1(2.4)
0(0)
0(0) / 70(89.7)
3(3.8)
3(3.8)
1(1.3)
1(1.3) / 0.123 / 332(82.8)
43(10.7)
15(3.7)
10(2.5)
1(0.2)
Source is Anti-HCV+
  • Positive
  • Not tested
/ 6(75)
2(25) / 0(0)
0(0) / 0(0)
1(100) / 0(0)
0(0) / 0.134 / 6(66.7)
3(33.3)
Source is HCV-RNA +
  • Positive
  • Not tested
/ 3(42.9)
4(57.1) / 0(0)
0(0) / 0(0)
1(100) / 0(0)
0(0) / 0.408 / 3(37.5)
5(62.5)

1.Mahfouz EM, Mossalam FA, Abdel-Rahman SM, Abood SA, Abdelwahab SF (2008) Assessment of needlestick injuries and related knowledge among health care workers participating in an infection control-training program at EI Minia University Hospital. Egypt J Community Med 26:81-93.

2.Talaat M, Kandeel A, El-Shoubary W, Bodenschatz C, Khairy I, Oun S, Mahoney FJ (2003) Occupational exposure to needlestick injuries and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among health care workers in Egypt. Am J Infect Control 31:469-474